On average, deer yield about 60 pounds of meat which can feed 240 people. Illinois Deer Donation Program is returning to help those who need it. October 1st will be the beginning of the second donation cycle ready to support food pantries in East-Central Illinois. The program connects hunters and meat processors to bring venison to food pantries.
Hunters can donate a deer for free as the program covers the processing fees when deer are brought to meat processors. Community members who don’t hunt but want to support in their local area can donate as well.
A $100 donation will process one deer and go directly to the program’s partnering meat processors, which also help support small businesses. Donations are tax-deductible and processed through the University of Illinois Foundation. For more information, visit go.illinois.edu/deerdonation.
The program is providing donated meat to food pantries in 16 counties, including Effingham, Fayette, Macon, Moultrie, and Shelby. During 2022, the program helped fund the processing of 202 deer, which yielded 8,414 pounds of ground venison that was available at area food pantries. Find out more by visiting the Illinois Deer Donation Program’s Facebook page.
